Rock the ’80s: Local bands to perform rad show for gnarly cause

There will be a surplus of neon, Aqua Net and Z Cavariccis at The State Theatre on Feb. 27 for the fourth annual Rock The ’80s Benefit Concert. With 10 local bands playing an array of hits from the decade of decadence, proceeds will support the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund.

Last year, the concert sold out for the first time, and organizers are determined to maintain that momentum. The word of mouth excitement spreading throughout the community over the Feb. 27 show matches the tireless efforts going on behind the scenes.

“The planning for this year’s show has been coming along very well and we are hoping to repeat our previous success. We have no reason to believe that it will not sell out this year,” said Doreen Perks, the founder of the Bob Perks Fund. “We really have grown. During the first year, we were three songs into the night and I remember looking over at the person next to me and she said, ‘I knew this was going to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be this good.’ ”

“There really has been a groundswell of enthusiasm for this year’s show,” added Norma Kelly, the fund’s director. “It’s a concert that people really love and have been looking forward to since the last one. All of the bands are volunteering to be here and that really resonates with the audience.”

Founded in 2006, the Bob Perks Fund has provided financial relief to patients battling cancer. The organization’s mission has positively impacted the lives of countless families throughout Central Pennsylvania and has raised more than $1 million in the past 10 years. The Feb. 27 concert will go a long way in ensuring that the organization can continue its work. The reason that this particular concert series has grown is solely based on just how willing the community has been to support such an important cause.

“People really do love this show,” Perks said. “The audience will be dressed up in their ’80s garb and I’ll be walking around downtown State College seeing all of these people in their fun outfits. It really grabs your attention and actually helps to draw more people to the show. The community has really jumped on board and embraced this event.”

“Nothing makes me happier than seeing just how successful these concerts have become,” Keller said. “It’s such a fun event and really draws people in.”

Although so much of the music and fashion of the 1980s has changed, there are still traces of the colorful decade popping up today. Bands like Cold Cave and Color Film have been inspired by the synth-soaked songs that preceded them 30 years earlier. Models wearing ripped acid-washed jeans and blinding fluorescents tops have become more prevalent with each passing season, ultimately setting the stage for a full-fledged 1980s renaissance.

“It’s really just a lot of fun,” Perks said. “It’s so great dressing up and listening to ’80s music, it’s almost like going back in time a little bit. It’s just something different. Even a lot of younger people have been enjoying these concerts, not just people who are my age.”

“I think it has to do with the quality of the music and all of the different styles of music that were out at the time. It was all just incredibly appealing,” Keller added. “The people that come to this concert are expecting a full ’80s experience and that’s what we strive to give them: great ’80s music.”

Bands for the show include Frackwater Jack, Mr. Hand, Spider Kelly, Giants of Science and more, and were organized by local musician JR Mangan.

“There really is some thoroughly outstanding music. The camaraderie of the bands is really great to see and they just have such a good time playing this show,” Keller said. “It’s very exciting to have all of these bands playing under one roof and the excitement among the bands rubs off onto the audience and it’s very clear just how special this night is.”

“It really is going to be a lot of fun. We remove the first couple of rows of seats so that everyone in the area can come down and dance,” Perks said. “The bands are terrific and they play some really great music from the ’80s that will simply make you want to just sing along and dance.”

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Rock the ’80s: Local bands to perform rad show for gnarly cause."